Historic Ice Races on Lake George, NY

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Last winter, the Adirondack Motor Enthusiat Club (http://www.icerace.com/) brought you the very first Historic Ice Racing event in the US. The entire story with photos is all documented on the inagural Historic Ice Racing (http://www.grmotorsports.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=10076&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=5fabcf1de1c05fcdd9a483f4312b51b3) thread on these boards.

We are a year round motorsports club and have recently celebrated our 53rd year of operation this past summer. What we are best known for however is our winter ice racing series on the frozen lakes of the southern Adirondack mountains just north of Albany, NY. We have been ice racing our automobiles on the lakes of upstate New York's Capital district for the past 42 years.

Although it wasn't our initial intention for this to be an annual event, the feedback from the racers from our inagural Historic Ice Racing event this past February was so positive and persistent, that we feel compelled to do it again this winter.

So it's official:

We're doing it again for 2007!

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Once again we have decided to host a new exhibition class called the "Historic Class" to showcase some of those classic Saab, Volvo, Datsun, Citroen, Chevy, Ford, VW, MG, Subaru, Mini, Fiat, Porche, etc. ice racing cars like the one's from our past. The new Historic class will be run on the Saturday of the biggest ice racing event of the season, the two day Lake George Winter Carnival weekend on February 24th and 25th. There will be an abbreviated schedule for all regular classes to ensure plenty of seat time for your Historic class ice racer. Once again it will look like 1969 out there all over again!

Much to our surprise, our historic ice race driver's enthusiasm has not waned in the off season. In fact over the summer, I have been contacted by several people who have aquired, or are restoring cars specifically for this event. Evidently there were quite a few people that had the sit back, wait and see approach for our inagural event, which was the first of it's kind in the US. Some came to spectate and "test the waters" so to speak. Now after witnessing our inagural event they are ready to join the fray after seeing how much good clean fun they missed. Exhibition ice driving/racing is an absolutely unique driving experience and combining it with the spectacle of classic sports and compact cars is simply something a true enthusiast needs to take part in at least once in their lifetime! But I must warn, you, it's hard to go ice racing just once. Trust me on this one. :wink:

If there's one message to get across here, it would be to get the old iron out of storage and ready to run now, before the dead of winter sets in. Several great cars did not make it out last winter because the owners procrastinated. It's time to get them out and ready!

More details to follow shortly.

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Michael Kamm
Historic Ice Race Coordinator
European Rallycross Coordinator

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2007 A.M.E.C. Historic Event Rules

The rules for this year's Historic Ice races will be the same as last year's inaugural event. Once again there will be three Historic Class divisions. Those will be based on the tires used. They are a rubber to ice class, a street stud class, and a screw tire class. In other words, all drivers are welcome to choose from any winter tire new or old, studded or not, and can also choose to use the home built "screw tires" A.M.E.C. used years ago before we switched to the purpose built Menard ice racing tire we run today. Menard Ice racing tires will not be legal to use for the Historic class. This is not intended to be a seriously competitive race. It is intended to be an exhibition for fun, although I'm sure there will be some careful, but spirited drives put in by some. Yes, there will be a big disparity between the different cars and tires used, but that's why we will grid the faster classes in front. Refer to the "Gridding" subtitle below.

Three Classes

Rubber to Ice Class:

This one is self explanatory. Any winter tire new or old is legal. Period correct tires are preferred, but if you want to use the new Bridgestone REVO 1's go for it! Tractionizing IS allowed. This is the old days folks. :D

Street Stud Class:

This class utilizes street studded winter tires. The number of street studs is limited to 30 per linear foot of tread surface. The old Maxi-Trac studs ARE allowed for this race. Any length stud may be used, keeping in mind that excessive stud projection will cause premature loss of stud.

Screw Tire Class

This class uses the old home built "screw" tires of old. Up to #12 sheet metal screws may be substituted for studs. They must be driven through the tire from the inside and may project no more than 3/16ths of an inch. The number of screws will be limited to 28 per linear foot of tread. Over length screws must be ground down to the proper length. There is a "How To" article on these tires HERE (http://com4.runboard.com/bamecmessageboard.f1.t42).

Car Eligibility:

This event is open to pre-'75 vintage cars. Some '75 to '79 cars may be accepted, including all round headlight Japanese cars to '79. Simply contact me at: [email:ayx2y668]mkamm@icerace.com[/email:ayx2y668] with your request. This race is not limited to former ice racing cars only. Street driven and vintage race cars are welcomed with open arms.
Course Layout:

A.M.E.C. races are run on frozen road courses, approximately 1.5 miles in length.

Gridding:

We will grid the faster screw tire class first, followed by the street stud and rubber to ice classes for safety. We do the same for our weekly street legal no-contact classes. We have found that having the faster cars come up through the pack from the rear is counterproductive to the no contact rule.

Daily agenda and race format:

Friday, February 23rd:
We will once again offer a complimentary driver's school and test 'n tune event on Friday afternoon after the track is plowed. Friday's track time will be for Historic Class drivers only. Sorry, no regular weekly ice racing class cars will be allowed.

Saturday, February 24th:
There will be a 10 minute morning warm up session for all cars, followed by three 20 minute heat races, during Saturday's program. All three classes race in the same heats. Just like 40 years ago, standing starts will be employed.
*Bonus race* Sunday, February 25th:
We have added an additional heat race to the lineup before Sunday morning's regular program gets underway. This will be the first group out on the course and will give all of the historic racers who are staying over on Saturday night extra seat time on the ice before heading back home. We're sure that Sunday's spectators will appreciate it too!

Dinner and Awards:
A.M.E.C. will be presenting trophies for the top three finishers for all three Historic classes on Saturday night, A.M.E.C. will be having a dinner and awards presentation in our own banquet room at the host hotel.

Host Hotel information:

The host hotel for this event will the Holiday Inn Turf- Lake George [right in the village, less than a minute from the lake] http://www.lakegeorgeturf.com/. Hotel Reservations:1-888-HOLIDAY (888-465-4329)
Hotel Front Desk: 1-518-6685781

This is where the action will be before and after the races. It is right next door to the Mount Prospect Diner [where morning race registration will be], and where the racers and their families will be dining, including the special Saturday night awards banquet. There is a special low rate for ice racers, but to take advantage of it, you must reserve your room by February 9th to get the lower rate.

Anyone considering participating or having any questions is asked to please contact Mike Kamm at: mkamm at icerace dot com or phone (518) 674-0520.

I also have a Historic Class email list that I use for updates. To join the list simply email me at the address above.

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Current Driver's Roster

Rubber to Ice class

#71 Sam Patterson, Saquiot, NY, '69 Saab 96 -
#34 Eric Nelson, Longmeadow, MA, '71 Saab 96 V-4

Street Studs

#41 Rik Rydant, High Falls, NY, '66 Saab 96
#112 Brian Hunter, Toronto Ontario Canada, '68 Volvo 122
#12 Ian Lok, Toronto Ontario Canada, Volvo 122
#6 Theodore Goneos, Connecticut, Porsche 911
#11 Tom Cox, Woodstock, MD, 1970 Saab 96 V-4
#415 Daniel and Richard Dobbins, Long Island, NY, '62 Studebaker Lark

Screw tires

#96 Bruce Turk, Walden, NY, '61 Saab 96 Rallye Car
#35 Tom Baird, Caroga Lake, NY, '72 Saab Sonnett
#23 Steve Garrett, Philly, PA, '60 Austin Healy Sprite
#42 Mike Kamm, Averill Park, NY, '77 Datsun B210
#1 Casey Creamer, Burdett, NY, '69 Alfa Romeo Berlina
#00 Nick Julian, Saab 96 V-4
#53 Bob Addis, 1964 Corvair Monza convertible

I have been busy organizing this event and have sent my Historic email list several detailed updates already, including yesterday's announcement of the opening of event registration. If you would like to be added to the list and receive up to the minute info for this event, simply send an email to mkamm at icerace dot com.

Online registration form is HERE. (http://www.icerace.com/Historic%20Class%20Entry%20Form.htm)

Registration is now open and all are encouraged to sign up for this event. You can print them out, bring them with you, and present them to me on the ice on Friday, or at Saturday morning's regular race registration in the Mt. Prospect Diner [next door to the Holiday Inn host hotel]. There is no need to send any money now, but please email me or call me at (518) 674-0520 and tell me your coming. I want to keep a current log of entries for this event on our message board. I also need to know what car number you will use. And if you can, please email me a digital picture or two with a little info about your car.

Thanks,

Michael Kamm
Historic Ice Race Coordinator

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The Historic racers will once again be treated to a complimentary event T-shirts courtesy of RiK Rydant and A.M.E.C.

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Rik designed the graphics and produced the limited edition 2007 Lake George Historic Ice racing T-shirts at his Teebirds Design screenprinting facility in High Falls, NY.

Thanks RiK! http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif

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Wow, what a weekend. I think it's safe to say that A.M.E.C.'s second Historic Ice Racing weekend exceeded everyone's expectations!

We had the two main ingredients we were missing last year - the weather and the location. We were fortunate to have been able to hold this event where it all started back in 1965, in beautiful Lake George. We were treated to sunny skies, temps in the upper 20's, and virtually no wind. What more could you ask for right?

The Cars were the stars......

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Take a look at this action. Sam Patterson's Blizzak equipped V4 powered Saab 96 was running in front of some street stud and even screw some tire class cars! The mud on the front fender illustrates that Sam flat towed this car to the lake [behind a Saab 9000] all the way from Saquoit, NY.

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Pennsylvania's Steve Garrett was having the time of his life sliding his 1960 Austin Healy Bugeye Sprite through the corners on his home built screw tires. He was among the quickest all weekend. There's only one car he couldn't quite keep up with......

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...and that was Bruce Turk's fabulous 2-stroke Saab 96, with it's finely tuned 750 GT rally engine under the bonnet. Bruce was running on a donated pair of 30+ year old home built screw tires.

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Here was one of the greatest battles in Historic racing all weekend. The classic FWD vs RWD street stud match up between Bill Lass and Mike "Fuzzy" Space. Bill is driving his '68 Saab 96 with V4 power, and Fuzzy is right there with the oldest vintage car of this event - a '59 Volvo 544! Get this: both of these guy's drove these cars over 600 miles to and from this event! Bill drove his Saab in from Buffalo, NY and Mike his Volvo from Bethlehem, PA! Yes, this is the car that appeared in Classic Motorsports magazine this fall in the "Ran when parked" column. The amazing thing is that Mike has had never driven this car more than 15 miles from home before. Both men drove their classics to the race, raced all weekend, and drove them home. Just like it was done 40 years ago!

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And how about Bob Addis' 1964 Corvair Monza Spyder? This guy is the real deal, running top down and during the first race, sporting a pair of chrome framed driving goggles! This car brought back many fond memories for some of our senior members, who were there 40 years ago when air cooled flat sixes with studded tires populated the RWD class.

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Mike Space's 544 followed by Casey Creamer's '69 Alpha Romeo Berlina and Tom Baird's beautiful '73 Volvo P1800ES.

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Taking the checkered flag in front of about a thousand spectators with the Lac du Saint Sacrament cruise boat in the background.....only on Lake George folks!

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I hope you all enjoyed the pictures I took at our event. They are a bit grainy because my camera is only 1 megapixel. The real pictures came out yesterday.

They can be seen on pages 8 and 9 of THIS (http://com4.runboard.com/bamecmessageboard.f1.t217) thread.

Here's a sneak peak......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/blownb310/Ice%20racing/73.jpg

Cheers,

Mike